How Sacramento County spent federal COVID-19 relief funds
New numbers released Tuesday revealed Sacramento County used the lion's share of the federal novel coronavirus relief funds to pay for salaries and benefits of employees from the sheriff's office, probation officers and park rangers.
Sacramento County officials moved money around to free up the general fund revenue to safeguard health programs and services needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, said county spokesperson Kim Nava.
The county received $181 million in federal money from the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act, which is better known as the CARES Act.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the county was expecting a $170 million loss in tax revenue.
Federal CARES Act money cannot be used to replace lost revenue, but it can be used to fund payroll expenses for public safety, public health, health care, human services and similar employees whose services are substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
So far, the county has spent more than $147.9 million of the CARES Act money. Of that, more than $127 million was spent on payroll expenses:
- $104 million went to payroll, salaries and benefits of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office
- $21.5 million for probation officers
- $1.8 million for park rangers
The move freed up $146 million of general fund money to make up for the loss in general fund revenue, Nava said.
Now, that money can be used to pay for programs and services in public health, child protective services, mental health, human assistance and homelessness.
County Supervisor Chair Phil Serna was not available for comment Wednesday night but said the issue is still very fluid, and he would be available to comment at the end of the week.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the amount of general fund money that was freed up.